- Friday, February 28, 2025
Last week, Duggal and others were sentenced to a combined total of over 39 years in prison at Bournemouth Crown Court.
By: Shubham Ghosh
A 28-year-old Indian-origin woman identified as Sarina Duggal has been sentenced to seven years in prison for her involvement in a drug supply operation that exploited minors in the UK. Duggal was part of a gang that controlled drug distribution in London and Birmingham, with supply reaching as far as Bournemouth.
Last month, five members of the group were found guilty after a seven-week trial, and last week, Duggal and others were sentenced to a combined total of over 39 years in prison at Bournemouth Crown Court.
The Metropolitan Police, leading the investigation named Operation Orochi, stated that this case led to the dismantling of a significant county drug line that was responsible for distributing crack cocaine and heroin, causing harm and distress to the local community in Bournemouth. The operation also resulted in the safeguarding of two missing children from different parts of the country, providing them with the necessary support and diversion programmes to prevent their involvement in future county lines activities.
Detective Constable Jack Jeffries from Operation Orochi emphasised the severity with which the courts treat such offenses, highlighting the commitment of law enforcement to combat this criminal activity using all available resources. Operation Orochi is a specialised unit within the Metropolitan Police focused on targeting high-harm offenders engaged in county lines drug supply, collaborating with forces in the importing counties.
The gang members were convicted of facilitating the travel of individuals with the intention of exploiting them and conspiring to supply Class A banned drugs, including crack cocaine and heroin. The investigation began when a 16-year-old boy from Farnborough was arrested in Bournemouth for possessing a significant quantity of drugs. Following his arrest, a mobile phone was seized, and the boy was released under investigation while appropriate support measures were implemented to protect him.
The case was then referred to Operation Orochi due to concerns that the boy may have been coerced into working for a county lines gang responsible for drug distribution in Bournemouth. The police conducted an extensive analysis of communication data, including social media conversations, between the offenders, as well as thorough examination of CCTV footage from a hotel in Bournemouth.
Duggal and three others were identified as controlling the “Hustle” county drug line in Bournemouth, with the 16-year-old boy discovered to have been working for them.
The court heard that the criminal gang had exploited two missing children from London, using them to run the county line operation from London to Bournemouth. These children were exposed to significant risks and placed at the forefront of the supply chain while the gang reaped the profits. However, the teenagers were not prosecuted but rather referred to Children’s Services under the respective local authorities’ care.
(With agency inputs)
